Helping Keep Water Clean

This information is being provided to give readers a general idea of what the law requires. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive description of the ordinance. The reader should consult the applicable ordinance for a full description of prohibited activities, exemptions that apply, and penalties associated with violation of these ordinances.

How Does This Help

Pet waste left on the ground washes into storm drains and then flows to rivers, lakes and eventually oceans. Animal waste has a high concentration of nutrients, bacteria, and micro-organisms that pollute water and can cause disease. Keeping pet waste off the ground and out of storm drains through proper disposal eliminates a significant source of water pollution.

Encouraging wildlife to nest or live on public land will increase animal waste that can wash into storm drains and pollute water.

Decaying leaves release pollutants that will adversely affect water quality. Keeping leaves out of storm drains keeps these pollutants away from the water we’re trying to protect. As grass and hedge clippings break down, they can also release pollutants. Placing them in a tightly covered container until collection keeps them off the street and out of the path of stormwater runoff.

Trash and recycling thrown on the ground can easily make its way to a storm drain inlet. Once garbage, rubbish and refuse get into the storm drain system, this debris flows into streams, lakes, rivers and eventually, the ocean.

Prohibiting the release of pollutants into the municipal storm sewer system, either through a physical connection or a non-physical connection (e.g, leaks, flows, overflows), keeps untreated sewage, industrial waste, and other harmful materials out of our water.

Improper application of fertilizer causes excess nutrients to enter waterways. Excess nutrients, especially phosphorous, can result in excessive and accelerated growth of algae and aquatic plants. Excessive plant and algal growth can result in extremes in dissolved oxygen and ph levels, which in turn, can be harmful to aquatic life. Keeping excess nutrients out of water bodies reduces the chance for excessive and accelerated growth of algae and aquatic plants.

Preventing waste materials (used motor oil, antifreeze, trash, yard waste, etc.) from being directly placed into a storm sewer inlet or from flowing into the stormwater system keeps water free of pollutants.

Keeping trash, recycling, refuse, and liquid waste materials tightly covered until collection, keeps these materials from spilling onto the ground and flowing into the stormwater system.